Ordnance



Jul 1, 1930. c; BmmGER onnyANcE Filed April 226, i926 Patented July 1, i939 CHARLES BITTINGER, OF BROOKLINE, MASSACHUSETTS ORDNANCE Application filed April 26,

This invention relates to ordnance, with particular reference to anti-aircraft ordnance.

So far as known, anti-aircraft ordnance has been designed for such use only, to the exclusion of ordinary field or naval ordnance purposes. Similarly large caliber ordnance such as 1s used on naval Vessels, for instance,

has been incapable of use against aircraft, due among other factors, to the slight degree of elevation to which such ordnance is susceptible. This results not only in undue duplication of ordnance, but also in inefiective antiaircraft measures.

Further, it has been the tendency and practice to provide as anti-aircraft ordnance de vices with a high rate of fire but with an attendant decrease in bore of the rifle, and in the size and weight of the projectiles. The hope being that a cone of fire will be provided of great intensity, of such divergence that one or more of the small projectiles may strike the target aircraft. Such anti-aircraft ordnance and fire have been proven to be ineffectual.

Some of the objects of this invention are; to improve the mounting of large caliber ordnance to permit its use against aircraft without in any way reducing the offensive power of the gun when firing at ships on the surface of the water, or lowering the resistance fac tor of the turret in which the gun is mounted; to provide means whereby highly effective firing may be had against aircraft, and many other objects and advantages as will be apparent.

In carrying out this invention a turret or similar mount for a gun is provided, which is so arranged that aiming and firing of the gun may be had in two perpendicular planes, effective for either long range or high elevation purposes.

In the accompanying drawing:

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic section through a turret, of a naval vessel for instance, in which the trunnions supporting the gun are mounted substantially in the plane of the opening in the turret, with the gun in its normal horizontal firing position. 7

Fig. 2 is a similar View with the gun swung 1926. Serial No. 104,832.

on its trunnions and elevated for anti-aircraft fire.

In anti-aircraft fire, the vital spot of the target has always'been considered to be the pilot. It has been found that expeditious results may be had by causing some collapse of the airplane structure, such as a strut, propeller, flying wires, and that such collapse is as effectiveas a hit on the pilot.

While of course, there is always a chance that the present construction and firing of anti-aircraft ordnance will inisolated cases result in hits, yet there is a tremendous waste of munitions with no certainty of a hit. Frequently such projectiles as make hits, pass through wings or other innocuous places, without any appreciable damage.

' This invention contemplates a reducedrate of fire if necessary, but results of high efiiciency from each shot. /Viththe invention pertaining to improvement of the mounting of large calibered ordnance, such as the 12, 14 and 16 inch gun, it will be perfectly feasible to fire either high explosive shells, the conventional shrapnel, or even gas shells, and good results should be obtainable from any of these. I

For greatest efi'ectiveness it is contemplated the projectiles would be used with large caliber ordnance which may be made available for such anti-aircraft or other fire, although obviously smaller rifles may be used.

Referring now to'the drawings, the turret carrying a desired number of guns comprises essentially an armored mount for the guns or rifles, the muzzles of which project through gun ports therein.

The armored turret 37 has a gun port 38, and the gun 39 projects therethrough. The trunnions or similar pivotal support for the gun 40, are located in the plane of the turret face, in the opening or port, so that without any movement of the turret or the gun mount, of elevation may be had.

Many changes and modifications of this invention may occur to those skilled in the art, and all such are to be considered as within the scope of the following claims, except where they may otherwise be limited. For instance, land fortifications requirehigh angled fire,

unobtainable except with such turretsas those described.

I claim as my invention: 1. In a gun mount, a turret having an in- 5 clined wall, a port formed in the wall, a gun projecting through the port, means wholly within the wall Ior pivoting the gun in the plane of the wall of the turret, the face angle of the armor on said wall surrounding the port being such that the gun may swing through avertical angle of at least 90 with a minimum port aperture.

2. A gun mount including a turret having an armorerL inclined wallsurface at an angle of at least d5 to the support thereof, a port in said wall, a gun projecting through the port, and means wholly'withinthe armored wall for pivoting the gun in the port and. substantially in the plane of said inclined wall whereby the gun may be swung vertically through substantially 90 without uncovering or requiring anyappreciahle port clearance.

A gun mount including a turret having an armored inclined wall, said wall having a port spaced above the lower edge of the wall,

, a gunprojecting through the port with its inner end in the turret, means Wholly within the armored wall for horizontally pivoting 30 the gun inthe plane of the inclined Wall, the

turret having internal clearance in line with the lower edge of said wall whereby the gun may swing to avertical position on its pivot with a minimum reduced port aperture.

l. A gun mount including a turret having an inclined wall and port formed in the wall above the lower edge thereof, trunnions mounted substantially in the plane and wholly within the faces of the inclined wall in said 40 port, and a gun mounted on the trunnions and projecting through the port in such manner as to be adjustable on the trunnion, the face angle or inclination oi the wall surrounding the port being such that the gun may be swung through a vertical angle of 90 With a minimum port aperture.

In testimony whereof I atliX my signature.

CHARLES BITTINGER. 

